Two minutes later, Bai Shen pushed open the lounge door and set a steaming glass in front of Shi Zhou.
"Here, drink some. It'll help you sleep tonight."
There were two lounges on the second floor. This one wasn't very big, but it was cozily furnished, with a small pendant lamp casting soft, warm yellow light throughout the space.
The warm milk swirling in the glass brought Shi Zhou back to his senses. Curled up in a little armchair, he held the glass in both hands and said, looking rather embarrassed:
"Thanks, Brother Shen."
Bai Shen swirled the whiskey on ice in his hand, pulled out a chair, and sat opposite Shi Zhou.
"You're welcome."
A sip of the sweet milk seemed to settle his mood a little. Bai Shen was in no hurry to speak, but Shi Zhou couldn't help lowering his head and asking:
"Have I done something wrong since I came on the show?"
Why did everyone act so strangely when my video played tonight?
Am I doing the right thing? Will I let Director Zhang and the system down?
Can I use this opportunity to make up for my regrets and cover my family's financial shortfall?
Perhaps these questions had already been lingering in his heart for a long time.
But so much had happened, so quickly, that he had to act before he could even process it, gritting his teeth and pushing through. Yet he carried too many secrets and hopes in his heart, and the burden was too heavy.
When he couldn't see where a road ended, it was hard not to feel a little lost.
He wasn't sure whether he was imagining it, but there seemed to be a trace of gentleness in Bai Shen's even voice:
"You're doing very well."
Shi Zhou looked up in surprise.
"Really, Brother Shen?"
Tonight had really shaken his confidence.
Bai Shen leaned casually against the back of his chair, a few strands of hair falling loose. He held his glass in one hand, a hint of a smile in his deep eyes, his well-tailored suit jacket making him look all the more upright and imposing.
"Yes."
This production team really...
He understood that intensifying the guests' feelings in such a short time required some tactics, but theirs were far too aggressive.
One wave after another, without giving anyone a chance to catch their breath.
They had practically stirred the guests into a daze, leaving them no peace.
Even in a business showdown, these strategies would qualify as ruthless, decisive moves, let alone when applied to feelings that were so difficult to control.
Even he had to admire them.
They certainly lived up to their reputation as a top-tier variety show team. Once they made their move, there was simply no way to defend against it.
Although Bai Shen's answer had been just one short word, the certainty in his manner reassured Shi Zhou.
His lips moved a few times before a smile spread across his porcelain-white face. His eyes shone as he looked at Bai Shen with gratitude:
"Thanks, Brother Shen."
Having someone encourage him at a time like this was already a great comfort. Bai Shen's steady, composed presence gradually rubbed off on him, soothing much of his earlier turmoil.
He smiled. "Ah, sometimes people aren't afraid of knowing what they've done wrong. They're afraid of not knowing."
At those words, Bai Shen's mind suddenly flashed back to not long ago, to those very same eyes...
He lowered his head to take a drink, murmured in agreement, and said, as though joking:
"You don't have to keep thanking me. We help each other."
Those were the words Shi Zhou had said to Bai Shen in the kitchen that afternoon. Recognizing them, Shi Zhou grinned, showing a mouthful of little white teeth:
"Sure! If you ever need me to do anything, just say the word!"
He didn't even dare presume to call it helping. What could he possibly help the boss of the Universal Group with?
Bai Shen was just being polite because he was a nice person.
Bai Shen looked at the bright, beautiful, snow-white face opposite him, still touched with boyishness. The words hovered in his throat before he finally sighed and left them unsaid.
I really want to ask for your help right now. Just pick one of them and be with him, so you stop turning these guests, who usually think themselves so dignified, upside down.
But Shi Zhou was a person, not an object to be assigned to someone.
Even if he really got together with one of them, could the others avoid falling for him when they saw him right in front of them every day?
Could they live together quietly and peacefully?
Bai Shen weighed his words before speaking slowly:
"Zhouzhou, although I don't know what you're worried about..."
"I may have told you this before, but I'm going to say it again-"
Seeing how serious he sounded, Shi Zhou sat up straight and looked at him attentively.
Bai Shen met his eyes with his own deep gaze and said, word by word, "Whatever happens, just be yourself."
There were so many people in the world. Some would like him, and some wouldn't.
He was already wonderful, so he could simply be himself without worrying.
As for what the production team wanted, or how things would ultimately turn out, those were no longer among Bai Shen's considerations.
As long as Shi Zhou was happy, that was enough. There was no point saying more.
He raised his glass of golden liquor and smiled.
Shi Zhou clinked glasses with him, boldly drained his milk in one go, and set the glass down.
He smiled. "Even though you told me not to say it again, I still have to thank you."
Bai Shen finished his whiskey too, then reached out with his sleeve rolled to his wrist and ruffled Shi Zhou's hair.
"All right. What happened tonight had nothing to do with you. Go to bed."
He should get some rest early. The production team would definitely have more tricks up their sleeves tomorrow.
Back in his room, the system comforted him too. [Zhouzhou, don't be discouraged.]
[Take a look at the three male leads' attraction levels.]
Right, I have a system I can use to cheat. I forgot, I forgot.
It was only natural that he wasn't used to using it. After all, although he already knew he was a character in a novel, everyone was a living, breathing person in Shi Zhou's eyes. People's thoughts changed all the time. Could they really be reduced to numerical values?
But when Shi Zhou looked, they really could.
"They've gone up!"
The smile returned to his face. Beside each of the three male leads' names was a progress bar in a different color.
Bai Shen's was a subdued, understated black. His had progressed the least, with only a tiny sliver filled.
Asta's was a bold, lavish gold. His progress was pretty good, somewhere between 10% and 20%. Without a precise numerical value, it was hard to tell.
Su Yue surprised Shi Zhou the most. For one thing, someone as cold as him actually had a red progress bar.
For another, his bar was already more than a third full!
Good heavens, the dating reality show has only just started!
Shi Zhou's confidence returned all at once.
He hummed as he went to shower. While drying his hair afterward, he noticed that the rain outside seemed to have stopped. He opened the window and took a breath of the cool, fresh outdoor air.
Splash-
Suddenly, he heard someone dive into the water. Looking down, he saw that someone was actually swimming in the outdoor pool this late at night.
It must be freezing.
A closer look revealed that it was Su Yue.
He wore a swimsuit and swam quickly, as though he had an inexhaustible amount of energy to burn. His tall, athletic figure rose and fell in the water, occasionally plunging into a deep dive.
He really needs a lot of exercise.
Before he could dwell on it much longer, someone knocked at the door. Knock, knock.
Shi Zhou opened it, and a staff member said with a smile:
"Zhouzhou, don't forget to send your text."
Today was the first day they would send attraction texts. The messages would be anonymous, and the results would not be announced.
The guests could guess who had sent them a message from its tone, and whether the person they liked had feelings for them.
The viewers could also use the attraction texts to gauge the guests' feelings.
Shi Zhou placed his Mindnet on the desk and rested his head on his arms, agonizing over the choice. Who should I send it to?
Before you continue